Electric switch.



l N E U00 S RW B T E EII PE .W GEN LT TUE I Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

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JOHANN G. PETERSON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROWELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

ELE CTRIC SWITCH.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN G. PETERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State ofConnecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricSwitches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of the base and the mechanismsupporting parts of a rotary snap electric switch.

The object of this invention is to provide a construction whereby thestop ratchet, when the mechanism is assembled, can be simply droppedinto place in the insulating base and held without any fastening meansof its own, in such manner that it will support the rotatory operatingor turn button spindle, which aids in holding it in place without theemployment of a bushing or similar means of iupport or fastening in theopening in the ase.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings shows a plan of a porcelain baseconstructed according to this invention. Fig. 2 shows a similar view ofthe same base with the stop ratchet and the rotatory operating spindlein position. Fig. 3 shows a View of the underside of the base. Fig. 4shows a central vertical section of the base and the stop ratchet,illustrating the manner of holding the ratchet and supporting thespindle. Fig. 5 shows views of the spindle and ratchet and of the washerand collet employed to prevent the removal of the spindle from the basewhen the parts are assembled.

The base, 1, is usually formed circular in outline of porcelain with acentral recess 2,

the usual screw openings 3 for securing it in position and the circuitwire openings 4.

Through the center of the base is an opening 5, which is slightly largerin diameter than the spindle. In the bottom of the recess in the top ofthe base and extending practically radial y are sockets 6, and in theunderside of the base about the central opening is a socket 7.

The stop ratchet 8, or that part which is employed to temporarily holdthe actuating mechanism while the throwing spring is being made tense,is preferably stamped to shape of steel with four stop shoulders 9 andfour outwardly projecting feet 10, which are depressed so that theyextend in a plane below the plane of the body of the ratchet.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 1'7, 1907.

Patented Dec. 29, 1908.

Serial No. 406,854.

The rotatory spindle 11, which supports the actuating mechanism and towhich the usual handle or turn button is attached, extends through aperforation 12 in the ratchet plate of approximately the diameter of thespindle, and through the central opening in the base. This spindlecarries a cam 13 and is of such length that when it is thrust throughthe perforation in the ratchet plate and central opening through thebase, it extends downwardly a sufficient distance to receive the washer14 which lies in the socket in the underside of the base and the collet15 which is slotted and slipped upon the notched end of the spindle andthen compressed to prevent its displacement.

In assembling this mechanism the ratchet plate is dropped into therecess in the top of the base with its feet projecting into the .radialsockets in the bottom of the recess which sockets the feet fit ratherclosely. Then the ratchet plate is thus located and the spindle isthrust through it and the base,

- and the washer and collet are secured in osition, the ratchet plate isheld down wit its feet in the sockets by the cam on the spindle abovethe ratchet plate and the washer and collet on the spindle below thebase so that it cannot become displaced.

As the feet extend outwardly from the center quite a little distance andfit the sockets rovided for them rather closely, the ratc et plate isheld not only against move ment rotarily, but is also held againstlateral movement in any direction, and it is held in this manner sorigidly that it provides a firm support for the spindle without theemployment of special fastenings. As the feet extend below the plane ofthe ratchet plate they readily drop into the sockets in such positionthat they hold the ratchet plate in place without interfering in any Waywith the movements of the switch mechanism which is applied to thespindle.

When the spindle is held by the ratchet plate in this way and the washerand collet are secured in place, it cannot trip or move ciently large toeliminate any possibility of irregularities interfering with the freemovement of the spindle.

With this construction no special means are necessary for holding theratchet plate in place, and the ratchet plate supports the spindle insuch manner that it is unnecessary to insert a bushing through the baseand provide holding means therefor, thereby reducing the cost ofmanufacture and assembling of the parts to a minimum.

The invention claimed is:

An electric switch having an insulating base with radially extendingsockets in its upper face and a central perforation, a plate withratchet teeth and feet that project outwardly in a plane below the planeof the teeth JOHANN G. PETERSON.

Witnesses:

HARRY R. WILLIAMs, JOSEPHINE M. STREMPFER.

